The
former chairman of the board of German Mercedes, Daimler-Benz
AG, Edzard Reuter, who is the son of the Berlin major Ernst Reuter
(1889-1953) addressed a note to the city of Berlin and its local
council of Charlottenburg warning that he and his family will
"withdraw all rights to use his father´s name"
for public places - especially for the once extravagant Ernst-Reuter-Platz
with beautiful illuminated and spraying fountains right in the
city´s centre which is now totally devastated.

Ernst-Reuter-Platz is a large traffic circle and round-about close
to Bahnhof Zoo and Kurfürstendamm.
He is one of the landmarks between the Brandenburg Gate and the
International Convention Centre (ICC). Five of the citys
major traffic routes intersect here, and their cultural roots
date back to the time that the Prussian kings passed by on the
ride from the city to their castle Sansouci in Potsdam. After
the second world war the place was rebuild with one of the city´s
first towers and later Werner Duettman was creating colourful
illuminations for the fountains. The square and its large fountains,
later were named in honour of the first, Berlin mayor, Ernst Reuter,
was once the rage throughout Europe and ended the blockade by
the east German government. In 1948 he called for world attention
with his famous moaning words "Völker der Welt, schaut
auf diese Stadt!" (People of the world, look to this city!")
...and please do not forget us! This started what now is famous
for the American achievement to feed the city´s western
population by air cargo and care parcels to survive the Berlin
blockade.

The fountain is moaning now in a double
sense: on one hand for the overcome of communism and second for
the now devastated present state, uncleaned and not maintained
for years. "A sample of no interest and sense for history",
Berlin SPD leader Klaus Böger told the press. "We will
have to figure out, if the senate can take over responsibility
for the fountains - especially in Charlottenburg. We can not accept
that they are wasted, muddy and not spraying." CDU leader
in the Berlin parliament, Klaus-Rüdiger Landowsky, attacked
the Charlottenburg major, Monika Wissel, who is responsible for
the Ernst-Reuter-Platz, even stronger: "Her politic strategy
seems to peak in the conviction for years already that dirt and
dust belong to a capitol and people have to cope with it!"

Edzard Reuter "will pay more attention
to the project in future", he announced in a letter to the
major of Charlottenburg. But Wissel states "that there is
no money left over at all and blames the parlous state of Berlin
government finances. Next Thursday the letter will be read in
Berlin parliament.

According to public sources the complete
restoration of the fountains is set at about DM 3,5 million ($2
million). A sponsor or donations may help. But at least the public
authorities should remind their self that keeping a certain quality
of life for the Berliners is one of the tasks to be paid of tax
revenues. (db.)

read the related article, followed
by examples of the great artwork left behind: